A credit attorney also represents clients who face criminal charges for failing to pay off debt. People also need the help of a credit lawyer when faced with identity theft and the responsibility of fighting credit agencies over inaccuracies in their credit reports. If you intend to have a career as a credit lawyer, follow these guidelines to help you through the process.

1. Follow through with four years of college or university and earn your Bachelor’s degree. An Associate’s degree will not suffice for admission to law school. Your major is not that important, but law schools might look at your GPA. Prestigious law schools put a high price on your academic background, so if you plan to aim high you need to en sure you have a very good university record.

2. All schools that the American Bar Association approves require The Law School Admissions Test, better known as the LSAT. If you are serious about going to law school, you should study hard for the exam. Besides your high GPA, law schools will need to see a high LSAT score as proof you are fit to become a law student.

3. While choosing the law school you want to attend, remain realistic about your chances. If you don’t have a good academic record, have a low LSAT score, or didn’t participate in a lot of extracurricular activities, you should consider less prestigious law schools. You will find the courses you need to become a credit lawyer in most law schools.

4. Fill out all the application forms and attach your academic records and test scores along with any other documents the admission process requires before you send your application to the law school of your choice. You might want to choose to apply to several law schools in case your first preferences doesn’t accept you.

5. Get into law school and focus on your interests. Learn the basics of law in the first year, but then make sure you take a credit law class. Study cases related to credit problems to understand the kinds of problems people face, how the law applies in different situations, and how credit attorneys deal with the cases.

6. Go to courthouses and observe credit attorneys in action. Take notes of what you don’t understand and ask your teachers to help clarify your questions.

7. After you earn your JD degree, you will still have to take the bar examination before practicing law. The bar exam might cover anything from the subjects you’ve learned over the years, so ensure you go over everything before the exam.

8. Once you get the right to practice law, get your name listed in online lawyer directories. Many people who need a credit attorney simply search for them online.